Transmission mechanism.



E. ROUNDS.

TRANSMISSION MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 15, 1910.

Patented @11.23, 1912.

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E. ROUNDS.

TRANSMISSION MBGHANISM.

, APPLIUATIONHLED SEPT. 15, 1910.

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Patented. J an. 23

El Walz/14u34 OFFICE.

ERDIX ROUNDS, OF

OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY, ASSIGrN-OR OF ONE-HALF TO GNTHER- WR'IGHT MACHINECOMPANY, OF OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY, A CORPORATION.

TRANSMlSSION MECHANLISM- a `Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23,1912.

Application filed September- 15, 1910. Serial No. 582,204.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EnDIX ROUNDS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Owensboro, in the county of Daviess and State of Kentucky,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TransmissionMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in transmission mechanism,primarily employed in connection with power propelled vessels orvehicles and the like, in which compactness, weight, laccessibility areimportant factors, aswell ,as their control and durability.

The object of my invention is to provide a transmission mechanism havingcoaxially` alined driver and driven shafts, clutching mechanism thereonfor directly connecting said shafts, gear' mechanism having differentspeed values connecting said shafts adapted to transmit motion aroundsaid clutch mechanism for yan indirect drive controlled by a series ofclutch mechanism@ with the clutching mechanism concentric withsaidshafts, and clutch actuating mechanism 'adapted to selectivelyengage said clutching mechanism for variously controlling the drivingconnections of said shafts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a transmission mechanism,with relatively alined driving and driven shafts, friction clutchmechanism mounted thereon, and a single clutch control concentric'withthe shafts, for independently controlling the clutch mechanism singly orin series l.as a unit.

Another object .of my invention is to provide a transmission mechanism,with clutching devices relatively alined and clutch actuating mechanismin plane therewith, and its osition of shift controlling the operationof the clutch mechanisms of the series.

Another object of my invention is to provide a transmission mechanism,with a series of relatively alined clutch mechanisms and driving anddriven shafts, with clutch actuating means concentric with said shaftsand clutches, for operating said clutches in- I dependently or in groupsand trains .of gearing interposed between said shafts and under thecontrol of said clutches, for producing a variety of speed changesbetween driver and driven shafts or a reverse rotation.

Another object of my invention is to prov ide `a transmission mechanism,with a series of friction clutches, means provided with a series .ofclutch engaging surfaces operating the same under predetermined lengthsof movement, for independently or serially controlling the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide a transmission mechanism,with a series of forward varying speeds produced through trains ofgearing, and clutch mechanism interposed 'between driving and drivenshafts and relatively arranged to produce the varying speeds inprogressive ratio and under the control of a single manipulating lever,whereby its various positions govern the operation .of the various'elements.

The features of the invention are more fully set forth in thedescription of the accompanying drawings., this specification, which ,1-

Fignre 1 is a top lan view of my improvement, with the upper casingsection removed. Fig. 2 is a section on l-ine a, w, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 isasection on line w, (w, Fig. 2l. Fig. L is a section on line o, v', Fig.2. Fig. 5 is a section on line y, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a section on line a,Fig..2. I As illustrated in the drawings, the transmission mechanism iscapable of controlling three forward varying speeds, reverse andrelease, by the manipulation of a single lever and particular type ofclutch devices, but it isobvious that clutching mechanism of variousforms and designs may be employed, to produce the same result, and it isalso obvious that .the ratio or number of forward speeds may bemodified, without departing from the features of my invent-ion.

The frame of the machine is of sectional type, and preferably formingthe housing or casing, for .completely inclosing the transmittingmechanism, so that the parts may be forming a part of.

, clamped upon the cover section 2.

lshaped disk 8, .clamping the same 5 represents the shaft j ournaled ina bearing formed in one end of thecasing sections 1, 2.

6 represents a driven lshaft coaxially alined with the drive shaft 5,and journaled in -a lbearing formed in the opposite end ofthe casingsections 1, 2. This shaft is provided with thrust rings o r grooves 7,to prevent lateral thrusts or strains upon said shaft. The shafts 5 and6 are hollow shafts with their bores alined, and through which clutchactuating mechanism is slid.

a represents a friction clutch, comprising the following elements :'-8represents a cupshaped disk, provided with a sleeve or hube extension 9,telescopically engaged over and fixed t-o the drive shaft 5.V 10represents a collar` engaged within the sleeve 9, of the disk 8, andover the end of the driven shaft y 6, thereby forming'an intermediatebearing connection for the two shafts, to maintain their alinementrelatively with each other, and in continuity, dispensing with interiorbearings therefor. 11 represents a disk within the cup-shaped disk 8,fixed to the driven shaft 6, and 12 represents an expansible andcontractible split-ring, supported upon the disk 11,l byl means of aheaded pin 13; the bore of the split ring 1 2, through which the pin 13projects, is of larger diameter than the pin, permitting free movementof the ring thereon, in ex-` panding and contracting the same. 14,15,represent oppositely disposedlevers pivotally mounted upon the disk 1-1,each adapted to engage a respective end ofthe split ring 12, to expandthe same when the -levers are actuated. It is obvious, however, that thefriction clutch mechanism may be of any well known construction capableof being operated by means, hereinafter to vbe described, and theconstruction shownl is merely a preferredtype. w

16 represent screw pins adjustably mounted, one upon each'of the levers1.4, 15, each adapted to engage a respective slide-pin 17, projectedthrough the hub of thedisk 11 and driven shaft 6, adapted to be engagedby the actuating rod 18, slidlable within the bores of shafts 5, 6, seeFigs. 2 and 6. This Iactuating rod is provided with a series ofcam-surfaces, adapted 'to' engage the .respective pins 17 and move thesame outward, swing the.levers '14 andv 15, expand the ring 12, withinthe cup-l thereto,l

and forming a driving connection between disks 8 and 11.

The clutch actuating rod 18 is shifted, as follows, vsee Figs. 2 and 519 represents a rod or pin fixed to and projected beyond the actuatingrod 18, preferably upon each side thereof, and through slots 20, of thedriven shaft 6, and engaging with the shifting collar 21, slidablymounted upon the driven shaft 6, said collar is provided with an annulargroove into which the arms 272, 23, engage, said arms being fixed to therock shaft 24, one preferably upon'each side of the collar, so as toprovide uniformity of action.

- -25 represents a hand lever fixed to the rock shaft 24, for actuatingthe same. Shifting the lever 25 to the right to move the 4actuating rod18 to the left, so as to bring the annular cam surface 26 thereof intoengagement with the pins 17, of the friction clutch mechanism, or clutcha, will form a direct driving connection between shafts 5 and 6, forimparting a high speed. To producea second speed, I provide a. secondclutch of substantially the same construction as that heretoforedescribed for clutch @,but in which the disk 11 is fixed to the shaft 5,said disk carrying or supporting the split-ring 12, and levers 14, 15,and within the cup-shaped disk 8, and pins projected througlirthe shaft5, adapted to engage with the actuating rod 27, loosely connected uponthe actuating rod 18, (see Fig. 2),ball bearings or other anti-frictionmeans being provided between said actuating rods, such loose connectionbeing preferable, especially when thedriven shaft is rotating in thereverse direction from that of the driving shaft, and as illustrated,the actuating rod 27 is of tubular form, litting over the stem extension28, o-f the actuating'rod 18,7and with the ball bearings 29inserted-between the ends of rod 18 and rod 27 and the opposite end of the rod27 and stem 28, 'the stem 28 being provided with nuts for adjusting theactuating rod 27 relatively to the-ball'bearings and upon the stem 28.The actuating rod 27 is provided -with the annular cam surfaces 30 and31, to respectively engage the clutch lever actuating pins 17, of theclutch b.

32 represents a gear fixed upon the hub extension of the cup-shaped disk8, of clutch b, in mesh. with agear 33, fixed upon the intermediateshaft 34,. suitably journaled within ,the casing sections 1, 2, seeFigs.

v 2 and 4,- and 35 represents an-elongated gear `fixed upon shaft 34, inmesh with a gear 36,- fixed .upon the hub extension of the clutchmember. 8, of friction clutch c, the disk 11^of sai-d clutch c is fixedto the driven shaft 6, and operated by means of the annular cam surface37, formedV on the ac.

tuating rod 18. Thus, by shifting the actuating rods 18 and 27, to bringthe cam surfaces 37 and 31 respectively, into proper positions toactuate the respective p-ins v17 and frictionally clamp together theclutch members 8 and 11, of clutches c and b, a

second forward speed is obtained through the driving shaft 5, clutch Y),gears 32, 33, intermediate shaft 34, gears 35, 36, clutch c, to drivenshaft 6. To. produce a third for-v ward speed, I provide the clutch d,in which the member 11 is fixed to the driving shaft 5, and the clutchmember 8, uponits hub extension, as a gear 40, fixed thereto,` in meshwith a gear 41, xed upon the intermediate shaft 34. The actuating rod28, is provided with an annular cam surface 42, adapted to engage thepins 17, of the clutch member d, when the actuating rod 28 is shifted tothe left, frictionally connecting the members 11 and 8, of the clutch d,and the cam surface 37, of the actuating rod 18, is of sufficient lengthto maintain the clutch c, in commission or operate therewith, during theshifting of said rods, for respectively throwing clutches c and d intocommission. Thus, when clutch (Z and o are in commission, a thirdforward speed is imparted from driving shaft 5, clutch d, gears 40, 4'1,intermediate shaft 34, gears 35, 36, clutch 0 to driven shaft 6.

To obtain a reverse rotation to the driven shaft G, I provide the clutche, with its member 11 fixed to the driven shaft 6, and the clutchactuating pins 17 thereof adapted to engage with the annular cam surface43, of the actuating rod 18, and with the clutch member 8 providedwith-a gear.44, in mesh with a second intermediate gear 45, mounted upona stud shaft 46, and in mesh with the elongated gear 35, on theintermediate shaft 34, thus shifting the actuating rods 18 and 27 totheright, to bring the cam surfaces 30 and 43 into operative position withthe clutches b and e respectively, motion will be imparted from thedriving shaft 5 through clutch Z), gears 32, 33, intermediate shaft 34,gears 35, 45 and 44, clutch c, to the driven shaft 6.

When the shifting lever 25 is ythrown to a position to disengage all ofthe cam surfaces from their respective clutch actuating pins of theseveral clutches, the transmission mechanism is in a neutral or idlecondition, as shown in Fig. 2. In short, shifting the actuating rods 18and 27, as a unit, so as to throw, first, clutch a into commission, aforward direct drive is obtained; second, throwing clutches c and b intocommission, a second forward speed is obtained; third, clutches c andcl, a third forward speed; and fourth, clutches b and c, a reverse speedis obtained.

It is obvious, that the cam surfaces upon the actuating rods aresuitably spaced in order, if desirable,

when two clutches are thrown into. commission, one can be thrown inadvance of the second, or both thrown simultaneously, as it is therelative spacing of the lcam surfaces which controls the independent orserial actuation of the various clutches of the system. It is alsoobvious, that the range may be increased or decreased,

.without departing from the features of my invention.

Having described my invention, I claim 1,-

1. In a transmission mechanism, a driver and a driven shaft, clutchingmechanism mounted intermediate of said shafts for connecting the same,gear mechanism having different speed values connecting said shafts,adapted to transmit motion around said clutching mechanism for anindirect drive, clutching mechanism concentric with said shafts, forconnecting said gearing thereto, and means for controlling all of saidclutching mechanisms selectively. c

2. In a transmission mechanism, coaxially alined driving and drivenshafts, friction clutch mechanism mounted thereon for connecting saidshafts, gear mechanism having different speed values connecting saidshafts adapted to transmit motion around said clutch mechanism for anindirect drive, friction clutch mechanism for each speed value of saidgear mechanism, and clutch controlv ling means slidable within saidshafts, provided with a series of clutch engaging cams adapted toselectively engage and operate all of the clutching mechanisms atpredetermined limits of movement of said clutch controlling means.

3. In a transmission mechanism, a driving and a driven shaft relativelyalined, intermediate transmission mechanism between said shafts, aseries of friction clutch mechanisms concentric on said shafts forcontrolling the driving connections between said shafts and intermediatetransmission mechanisms, and a single clutch controlling means for thecombined series of clutching mechanisms, for selectively controlling thesame.

4. In a transmission mechanism, a driver and a driven shaft, gearmechanism having different speed values connecting said shafts adaptedto transmit motion intermediate thereof, a series of friction clutchesmounted on said shafts, for directly connecting said shafts, or saidshafts with said gear mechanism, for varying the driving relationbetween said shafts, means provided with a series of clutch engagingsurfaces, for operating a respective clutch or clutches at predeterminedlimits of its movement for variously controlling the driving connectionsbetween said shafts.

5. In a transmission mechanism, a driver and a driven shaft, coactingfriction clutch members relatively connected to the abutting ends ofsaid shafts, means for friction-y ally uniting the same, gear mechanismhaving different speed values connecting said shafts adapted to transmit.motion around said clutch member for an indirect drive, friction clutchmembers for each speed value of said gear mechanism, a clutch actuatingrod provided with a series of clutch engag- 10 ing surfaces relativelyspaced, whereby in its movements, selective control of the clutches ishad for producing a variety of forward speeds, reverse and neutralcontrol of the shafts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 15 E. W. PEGRAM.

Qopies of this patent may be obtained for ive eentsfeaoh, b y.addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C.

